January was a tough month for the New York Knicks, going 4-13. February started with a four game winning streak, including wins over a play-off bound Pacers, and struggling Magic. Of the team’s last nine wins, 4 have come against teams playing the second game of a back to back.
A fourth team, Portland, left the West Coast in the early hours of Dec. 31 for their loss to the New York Knicks on the 1st.
Back to backs are a fact of life in the NBA. The Knicks have the depth to take advantage of this.
In the win over the Magic, who were coming off a loss to the Celtics, Coach Miller played the starters 136 and the bench 104 mins. Taj Gibson also played 29 mins well above his season average. Against the Pistons, who were coming off a back to back, the split was 125, 105. Gibson had 13 minutes and Robinson 19 minutes.
Against the Hawks, it was the Knicks who were faced with back to back games. Four players got 30+ mins., including Mitchell Robinson‘s 35. However Julius Randle was on the floor for 46 of 58 mins. Taj Gibson, who has been playing really well, and Bobby Portis got a combined 35 mins.
The Knicks’ staff should be well aware of the negative effects of playing the second game of a back to back. The other two bigs should have been used to give Julius Randle more rest. This is just one way the Knicks might have kept their winning streak.
We have said good-bye to Marcus Morris Sr. He will be missed. It is unclear how his intensity, leadership, and defense will be replaced. However, it looks like Bullock and Ellington will provide the lost fire power. Together, they have averaged almost 28 ppg since the trade, with the Knicks winning two of three.